Malleable nickel having improved welding quality



Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN BODEN FILLING,OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTER- NATIONAL NICKELCOM'PANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WAREMALLEABLE NICKEL HAVING IMPROVED WELDING QUALITY [No Drawing.

This invention relates to malleable nickel and to its alloys.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce, in sheet or wire orother form, im-

proved malleable nickel and nickel-bearing alloys which exhibit a verymarked increase in capacity for being successfully. and efficientlywelded by fusion methods, and wherein the resulting welds showthemselves to be stronger, tougher, more ductile and freer from porositythan heretofore.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel method ofaccomplishing the improved product and its alloys.

It is generally known that, inorder to have the quality of malleability,nickel must be processed with and have a certain small amount ofmagnesium. This function of magnesium is considered to be concerned withthe trace of sulphur usually present,

insuring that this sulphur content occurs as' an infusible magnesiumsulphide instead of a fusible nickel sulphide. Experience has taughtthat nickel, suitably processed with magnesium to yield sound ingots andan excellent degree of malleability (such as will permit reduction tothin sheet and wire) may yield welds which are extremely porous, have avery low strength and break apart when slightly stretched or bent. It isthough that this is possibly one result of the more severe conditions offusion in welding as compared with melting in furnaces, but it will beshown that the deficiency inwelding quality is not due to too slight amargin of magnesium content and cannot be rectified by an increase inmagnesium content.

It has now been found that when the coning difliculties are eliminatedand fusion welds of exceptional quality are obtained. These welds arestrong, tough, ductile, and

' practically free from porosity.

In specifying the preferred contents of magnesium and silicon in nickel,it may be said that the most practical results are obtained when thereis .03 as a minimum and .30 percent as a maximum of magnesium present,and when the silicon ranges from I .02 to .4 percent. If the amount ofmagnesium or silicon is below these minima, porosity and low strengthdevelop in the weld. If magnesium is present in greater amountApplication filed September 6, 1929. Serial No. 390,856.

than .30 percent., an oxidized scum may the hardness and brittleness itdevelops. For

refined malleable nickel the range of silicon content preferred is .02to .40 percent., and magnesium from .06 to .15 percent. The advantageousproportion is Si .10 percent., and Mg .12 percent. This gives a nickelwhich not only may be forged and worked to sheet and wire, butwhichresponds excellently to the several methods of fusion welding.Nickel containing silicon and magnesium 1n the proportion cited above istherefore excellently adapted for all those uses in which the structureor part is fabricated from sheet, plate, tube or wire forms by welding.

It is to be particularly noted that these improved, satisfactory welds,may be completed successfully without the need of filling wires orelectrodes of special composition.

In illustrating thevalue of the presence of both magnesium and siliconfor the purposes herein set forth the results of three sets ofoxyacetylene welding tests will be shown. In making these tests a fillerwire was used which was substantially identical in composition with theplate metal.

The first group of tests were made with nickels which containedmagnesium in the amounts shown below but which contained no silicon.

TestNo 1 2 3 4 15 In each instance the weld discharged sparks andextruded metal while freezing, and each weld was found uponsectionalizing to be porous. With this grade of nickel a content of 02%magnesium is sufficient to give malleability, but a content even eighttimes greater, of magnesium alone, does not impart soundness to thewelds.

The second group of tests were made with nickels which contained siliconin the percent-ages indicated below, but with no magnesium present:

Test No 6 7 8 9 These welds, although extremely fluid when melted showedextrusion of the metal during freezing. The we'lds were brittle andporous when sectionalized and showed the development of gas holes.

The third group of tests were made with nickels which contained bothsilicon and magnesium in the percentages indicated below:

TestNo. 10 11 12 1a 14 %sl .08 .09 .00 .08 .72 %Mg .04 .00 .14 .19 .10

% i 20 .01 .21 72M! O2 O6 07 Breaking stressm lbs. per sq. in 3, 2002,800 33. 200

Elongation, 1n 2' 0.5 -0 5 Nickel containing silicon and magnesium 1nthe advantageous proportions responds equally well to fusion welding bythe carbon arc and metallic are methods as by gas fusion methods.

It is to be understood that the invention is applicable not only tometallic nickel but to nickel alloys which contain a substantialproportion of nickel such as nickel-copper alloys, Monel-metal,nickel-chromium alloys, etc. It is also to be understood that suchnickel or its alloys may contain in addition small amounts of otherelements that are commonly present in the commercial metal such ascarbon, manganese and cobalt. It will be understood that variouschanges, additions and modifications may be made, but such changes,additions and modifications are considered as being within the scope ofthis invention when they fall within the scope of the following claims:

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a welding element composed of more than95% refined nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.8% silicon and more thanabout 0.12% to about 0.3% magnesium, said magnesium being present insufiicient amount not only to combine with sulphur present to render itharmless but also to be available for functioning actively during fusionwelding.

2. As an article of manufacture, a welding element composed of more than95% refined nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.4% silicon and about 0.15% toabout 0.3% magnesium, said magnesium being present in sufficient amountnot only to combine with sulphur present to render it harmless but alsoto be available for functioning actively during fusion welding.

3. As an article of manufacture, a welding element composed of more than95% refined nickel, about 0.20% silicon and about 0.15% magnesium, saidmagnesium being present in suflicient amount not only to combine withsulphur present to render it harmless but also to be available forfunctioning actively during fusion welding.

4. A sound, strong, tdugh and ductile fusion weld composed of more than95% refined nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.8% silicon and more thanabout 0.12% to about 0.3% magnesium.

5. A sound, strong, tough and ductile fusion weld composed of more than95% refined nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.8% silicon and about 0.15% toabout 0.3% magne- SllllIl.

6. A sound, strong, tough and ductile fusionv weld composed of more than95% refined nickel, about 0.20% silicon and about 0.15% magnesium.

In testimony whereof, I have-hereunto set my hand.

NORMAN B. FILLING.

